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Jury awards actor Don Johnson $23.2 million in 'Nash Bridges' lawsuit

July 7, 2010 | 12:22
pm

Actor Don Johnson should receive $23.2 million in profits from the 1990s show "Nash Bridges," a Los Angeles jury found Wednesday.

Johnson, who played a San Francisco police inspector in the TV series, sued the production company, Rysher, saying he was owed half the profits from the show because he owned half of its copyright. The company contended in trial the show has yet to be profitable because it cost so much to make.

In their verdict, jurors recognized Johnson's ownership of half of the series and ordered the production company to cut the actor a check for profits they determined had accrued so far.

During the trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the now 60-year-old actor recounted for jurors his rise to stardom and said he was able to negotiate a favorable contract because of his success as the lead star of "Miami Vice."

An attorney for Rysher accused the actor of trying to change the terms of his contract because of his foundering career since his Nash Bridges days and questioned why Johnson had waited until almost a decade after the show's end to bring the lawsuit.